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💵 US Paycheck Calculator — Hourly, Overtime & Take-Home Pay 2026
Hourly pay with federal FLSA overtime (1.5x after 40h/week) and an editable withholding estimate across 10 states. Fast estimate — not tax advice.
🔒 100% Private Client-Side Calculation: All payroll math runs locally in your browser. Your hourly rate, hours, state selection, and withholding estimate are never transmitted to external servers.
How to Calculate Your Take-Home Pay With This Tool
The gap between gross pay and the amount landing in your bank account (net pay) drives budgeting, job-offer comparisons, and tax planning. This calculator keeps it fast and honest with five inputs:
- Select state: choose from 10 covered states (including no-income-tax Texas, Florida, and Washington, plus California daily-OT notes) or the federal FLSA fallback.
- Enter hourly rate: your gross $/hour before any deductions.
- Enter regular + overtime hours: weekly regular hours plus overtime hours, paid at 1.5x under federal FLSA rules (40h threshold).
- Set withholding %: one editable percentage covering federal, FICA, and state withholding combined — copy it from your latest pay stub for accuracy.
- Calculate: instant regular pay, overtime pay, and take-home estimate, with copy and .txt export.
Gross Pay vs. Net Pay: Decoding Your Pay Stub
Your pay stub breaks down every dollar between gross earnings and final settlement:
- Gross pay: total agreed compensation before any withholdings or deductions.
- Taxable wage base: gross income subject to tax after eligible pre-tax benefit contributions.
- Net pay (take-home pay): the final figure deposited after all mandatory taxes and voluntary deductions.
Understanding Mandatory US Payroll Tax Deductions
Federal law mandates specific deductions from every eligible paycheck across all 50 states. This tool folds them into your editable withholding % — here is what that percentage represents:
1. Federal Income Tax (FIT)
A progressive tax levied by the IRS across brackets (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%). The precise withholding depends on your IRS Form W-4 parameters.
2. FICA Taxes (Social Security & Medicare)
The Federal Insurance Contributions Act funds Social Security and Medicare, split between employees and employers:
- Social Security tax (OASDI): fixed 6.2% on taxable wages up to the annual wage base limit.
- Medicare tax: 1.45% on all earnings, without an income cap.
- Additional Medicare tax: earners above statutory thresholds ($200,000 single) pay an extra 0.9% withholding.
Breakdown of Typical Paycheck Deductions
Reference matrix of standard mandatory and voluntary deductions — the items your withholding % stands in for:
| Deduction Category | Tax Type / Name | Standard Employee Rate | Impact on Taxable Income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory federal | Federal Income Tax (FIT) | Progressive (10%–37%) | Calculated after pre-tax benefits |
| Mandatory FICA | Social Security | 6.20% | Applies up to annual wage cap |
| Mandatory FICA | Medicare | 1.45% (+0.9% high income) | Applies to 100% of gross wages |
| Mandatory state | State Income Tax (SIT) | 0.00%–13.30% (varies) | Based on state residence regulations |
| Voluntary benefit | Traditional 401(k) / IRA | Custom amount | Reduces federal & state taxable income |
| Voluntary benefit | HSA / FSA contributions | Custom elected amount | Reduces federal, FICA & state taxable income |
| Voluntary benefit | Roth 401(k) contribution | Custom elected amount | Post-tax dollars (no tax reduction) |
Last verified: 25 September 2026. Sources: IRS 2026 federal tax tables and state revenue authorities. Confirm with the relevant state tax agency before filing.
Official sources: IRS · IRS withholding estimator
State Income Tax Variations to Know
States without personal income tax
Nine states impose zero state income tax on earned wages: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Workers there pay only federal income tax and FICA — set a lower withholding % in the tool.
Flat vs. progressive state systems
Other states enforce a single flat rate (e.g. Illinois, Pennsylvania) or progressive multi-bracket schedules (e.g. California, New York). Some municipalities (New York City, Philadelphia, Ohio school districts) add local earnings taxes on top.
How Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax Deductions Change Take-Home Salary
Pre-tax deductions (immediate tax savings)
Traditional 401(k), 403(b), HSA, or FSA contributions lower taxable gross income before payroll taxes are computed — less federal and state income tax per paycheck today.
Post-tax deductions (future tax-free benefits)
Roth 401(k) plans, union dues, life insurance premiums, or wage garnishments do not lower your current tax burden. Taxes are calculated first; the post-tax amount is subtracted afterward.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How is US net take-home pay calculated?
Net take-home pay starts from gross earnings minus federal income tax withholding, FICA taxes (Social Security and Medicare), state and local taxes, and voluntary deductions. This tool simplifies that pipeline into one editable withholding percentage — match it to your pay stub for accuracy.
What are FICA taxes and how much is deducted from my paycheck?
FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It consists of a 6.2% Social Security tax (up to the annual wage cap) and a 1.45% Medicare tax (plus an additional 0.9% tax for high-wage earners) deducted directly from your gross salary.
How does Form W-4 affect my payroll tax withholdings?
Your Form W-4 tells your employer how much federal income tax to withhold based on your filing status, multiple job adjustments, dependent credits, extra income, and custom deductions requested.
Why is my actual paycheck lower than my estimated calculator result?
Discrepancies usually stem from unrecorded local city/county income taxes, state disability insurance (SDI) contributions, supplemental tax rates on bonuses, or mid-year wage base limits being reached.
What is the difference between bi-weekly and semi-monthly pay periods?
Bi-weekly employees receive paychecks every two weeks (26 paychecks per calendar year). Semi-monthly employees receive paychecks twice per month on fixed dates (24 paychecks per calendar year). This distinction changes the gross amount per paycheck.
How do I adjust my paycheck withholding if I owe taxes at year-end?
Submit an updated IRS Form W-4 to your employer's HR or payroll department. You can claim fewer dependent credits, indicate multiple jobs, or specify an exact dollar amount in Step 4(c) for extra withholding per pay period.
Are employee health insurance premiums exempt from Social Security tax?
Yes. If health, dental, and vision insurance plans are offered through an employer-sponsored Section 125 Cafeteria Plan, contributions are excluded from Federal Income Tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax.
Simplified estimate only — not tax advice. Confirm withholding with your employer, pay stub, or tax advisor.
Understanding US Paycheck Deductions & FLSA Overtime Rules
Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), non-exempt employees working over 40 hours in a workweek are legally entitled to overtime pay at a rate not less than 1.5 times their regular hourly rate.
Key Payroll Tax Components
- Federal Income Tax: Progressive withholding brackets based on W-4 filing status.
- FICA Taxes: Mandatory 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare contributions.
Payday Cycles & Overtime Calculation Triggers
Payroll calculations surge heavily on bi-weekly Fridays and at month-end. Ensuring proper FLSA overtime calculation (1.5x regular pay past 40 hours) protects companies from Department of Labor compliance audits.
💡 Pro Tip: Use our local browser calculator to simulate net take-home pay adjustments instantly before processing payroll runs.